Corner brace plate



Aug.- 6, 1935. w. D. FERRIS 0 CORNER BRACE PLATE Filed July 11, 1954 vELY/vita? WWW/D. err/0'5 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES CORNERBRACE PLATE,

William D. Ferris, Sterling, 111:, assignor toFrantz Manufacturing (30.,Sterling, 111., a corporation 7 of Illinois Application July 11, 1934,Serial No. 734,612

7 Claims.

This invention relates to metal brackets for reinforcing the corners offrames, such as the wooden frames of window screens, and for similarpurposes.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a metalbracket plate of simple and inexpensive form, one that may beinexpensively manufactured, and that can easily be applied.

It is also an object to provide an improved con: struction andarrangement whereby a bracket plate of this kind does not need to haveany right angle portions such as portions that are punched out and bentat right angles to the plane of the plate, thereby to simplify theprocess of manufacture, as well as to render the bracket plate in someways more satisfactory and effective in use.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists inmatters hereinafter set forth 20 and claimed and shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a front elevation of a windowscreen frame provided with corner bracket plate reinforcing meansembodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of one of said bracket plates, andthe adjacent portion of the frame to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Fig. l is a perspective of one of said bracket plates.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the corner portion of the frame with the saidbracket plate attached thereto.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises what is fundamentally afiat and square plate i, with the corners cut off, as shown, the cornerportion which overhangs the recess in the corner of the frame being cutoff more than the others, thereby forming a straight edge portion 2 thatextends from one side to the other of the right angle recess in thecorner of the frame. The body portion of the bracket plate, or its outersurface is formed with an upstanding head 3, which is L-shaped in form,the bead being endless, with flat space between the sides thereof,whereby the body of the plate is effectively stifiened. The edge portion2 is provided on its under or inner side with a depending bead 4, whichstiffens the brace thus formed across the recess or gap in the corner ofthe frame 5, which latter may be an ordinary window screen frame.

Also, in the portion of the plate that overhangs the recess in thecorner of the frame, two slots 6 are cut, and the metal outside of theseslots is forced down to provide curved edges 1 that engage the inneredges of the adjoining frame members.

It will be seen that nails 8 are inserted through 5 the body of theplate, into the adjoining members of the frame, to secure the bracketplate in place.

With this arrangement, the bracket plate has an upstanding beadformation 3, and an inside bead formation tending to stiffen the plate,and 10 in addition edge portions are provided that bear against theinner edges of the frame, whereby the plate, although practicallyentirely flat, is effective to brace the corner portion of the frameagainst strains in different directions. There are no punched out rightangle portions, such as portions that are sometimes punched out and bentat right angles to the plane of the plate, for engagement with theframe, and hence the bracket plate is easier and less expensive tomanufacture, and is at the same time in some ways more effective andsatisfactory in use.

By pressing the edges l inwardly, it will beseen that the plate issubstantially entirely fiat, and has no other edges that are not in theplane of the body of the plate, and that in this way the plate hasedgewise engagement with the edges of the frame, in the corner of theframe, under the overhanging section of the plate. In this way, theplate is practically not weakened, by any cut-out portions and theoverhanging section of the plate is practically as stiff, if notstiffer, than it would be without the indentations that result in theedges 7 that engage the edges of the frame to properly position theplate.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A reinforcing bracket plate for the corners of frames, formed with asubstantially or practically fiat body adapted to overlie the adjoiningframe members and having a flat section thereof overhanging the recessinside the corner of the frame, said overhanging section being providedwith portions pressed inwardly to provide the fiat bottom of saidsection with edges that bear against the inner edges of the frame, sothat except for said overhanging section the flat bottom or innersurface of the plate is practically flush, and whereby the plate hasedgewise engagement with the inner edges of the frame to position itover said recess.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said overhanging portion havinga stiffening bead extending obliquely of the corner, between saiddepressed portions and the free edge of said overhanging section.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, the body portion of the bracketplate having an L-staped stiffening portion overlying the adjoiningmembers of the frame, formed by an endless bead, whereby said L-shapedportion has a flat inner area surrounded by said bead.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said overhanging portion havinga stiffening bead extending obliquely of the corner, between saiddepressed portions and the free edge of said overhanging section, saidbead being formed on the under or inner side of said overhangingportion.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, the body portion of the bracketplate having an L-shaped stifiening portion overlying the adjoiningmembers of the frame, formed by an endless bead, whereby said L-shapedportion has a fiat inner area surrounded by said bead, said bead beingformed on the exposed outer surface of the plate, parallel with theouter edges of the plate, and with the edges of the frame.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, in which except for saidengaging edges all other edges of the plate are in the plane of the bodythereof.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said plate adjacent the cornersthereof having holes for nails or screws.

WILLIAM D. FERRIS.

